As the Wolfpack gymnastics team prepares to take on the University of Pittsburgh on Saturday in Reynolds Coliseum, the team hopes to carry over momentum generated at last weekend’s record-setting upset of No. 10 Nebraska. The meet, scheduled for 7 p.m., will feature the Pittsburgh Panthers, an EAGL conference foe that defeated the Pack last season.
Pittsburgh comes to Raleigh having defeated the Wolfpack last year in Pittsburgh by a score of 195.300-194.450. Pitt is an up-and-coming gymnastics team that most recently competed against EAGL member Maryland, among others, and came in second place, losing to the Terrapins by a score of 194.500-192.925. The Panthers are currently 5-6 with a 2-3 record in EAGL competition. Pitt sophomore Alicia Talucci won the all-around in the quad meet, which featured all EAGL conference teams.
“I think the upcoming meet against Pittsburgh is a good challenge for us,” head coach Mark Stevenson said.
This weekend’s meet will feature a deep and confident Wolfpack squad, which has four gymnasts capable of earning over a 39 in the all-around competition. In addition, the Pack has specialists who are capable of posting high scores on their specific event. In a sport where the object is not necessarily defeating highly ranked opponents, but achieving the highest team score possible, State could have an edge.
The rankings are determined by the average team score out of six meets in which three have to be away meets. The score is important in determining NCAA regional and championship competitions at the end of the gymnastics season.
“I believe that if we hit all our routines, then we put ourselves in the best position to win each and every meet,” Stevenson said.
In last weekend’s Sweetheart Invitational, the Pack took first place in overall team competition over highly-ranked Nebraska and EAGL rival UNC-Chapel Hill. The Pack managed to avoid counting a fall for the third straight meet, while Nebraska counted two on beam.
“The meet was one of the best ones so far this season,” sophomore Alex Williams said. “It will be an interesting meet because Pitt beat us during the regular season last year.”
The Invitational brought in tough competition for the No. 24-ranked Wolfpack, but the team was up to the challenge, taking care of its own performance as it posted a season high team score of 195.575. In individual events, the team posted its highest total on vault with all gymnasts receiving scores of no less than 9.75.
“Coming off Nebraska puts pressure on us to keep the ball rolling,” Kronenfeld said.
In order build on this win going into the last portion of the season, the team is focusing on coming together. The teamwork concept seems to be a familiar theme surrounding this season’s team as multiple members of the squad and the coaching staff have pointed out that teamwork has propelled the group to success.
Freshman Anna Kronenfeld said teamwork will play a factor in this weekend’s meet.
“Last weekend included a very big win for us,” Kronenfeld said. “I attribute the win to our overall teamwork during the meet.”
